Paper cutting and feeding device for printing-presses.



PATENTED' JUNE 16', 1903.

W. SCOTT). PAPER CUTTING AN-D' 'FBEDING DBVIGE POR PRINTING P APPLICATION I'I LED 00T. 8, 1900.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented June 16, 1903.

WALTER SCOTT, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

PPlii CUTTING AND FEEDING DEVICE FOR PRINTING-PRESSES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 730,976, dated J une 16, 1903.

Application filed October 8, 1900. Serial No. 32,373. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WALTER SCOTT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Plainfield, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Paper Cutting and Feeding Devices for Printing-Presses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to paper cutting and feeding devices, and more particularly to the class of devices utilized in connection with printing-presses.

The object of my invention is to prevent the paper from following around the cuttingcylinders and to transmit the cut sheets accurately to cylinders whose surfaces run at a greater speed than the surfaces ot' the cutting-cylinders.

Other objects will appear farther on in the matic side view of a mechanism embodying my invention. Fig. 1 is a detail view of the throw-off mechanism and adjacent elements. Fig. l" is a detail view of the accelerators. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the eccentric gears carried by the cutting-cylinders. Fig. 3 is a detail view of the rubber bar carried by one of the accelerating-rollers. Fig. 4 is a plan View of the male cutting-cylinder. Fig. 5-i's a plan view of a part of the train of gears for operating the device.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different views.

I shall describe a printing-press embodying my invention and afterward point out the novel features in the claims.

A indicates a paper-roll, B the feed-cylinders, and C and D the cutting cylinders. These cutting-cylinders are operatedby elliptical gears c and d', which are adjustable to cut sheets of varying lengths in a manner similar to that disclosed in Patents Nos. 414,593 and 444,137, granted to me, respectively, on the 5th of November, 1889, and January 6, 1891, or in any other suitable manner.

K indicates a transfer-cylinder, K' an imcutting-cylinder is ungrooved and carries a` rigid knife cw.

The feed-rolls B are geared to feed the web A at a speed equal to the length of sheet to be cut off at each revolution of the cuttingcylinders. ,The cutting-cylinders are adj usted so that that the cutting members are moving at the same speed as the web while in contact with it in the act of cutting.

The web of paper A is fed into the press from the roll A by means of the feed-rolls B, the upper of which has a handle Z9, by means of which it may be lifted out of Contact with the lower roll and passes between the cutting-cylinders C and D. l-Iere the web is cut into sheets of the required length; but on account of the intimate contact of the cutting members with the paper in cutting the web into sheets the latter are apt to adhere to the said members and to follow around with the cylinders C and D. To obviate this, I provide the said cylinder C with the throw-off fingers E, mounted on a transverse bar c5. These fingers are adapted at predetermined intervals corresponding with the cutting operation of the cylinders C and D to protrude, with their tips @beyond the periphery of cylinder C, so as to push the sheets oif by destroying the intimate mechanical contact between the latter and the cutting device. These throw-off fingers E may be pivoted, as at e', and held in their normal position by a spring e2, while the roller e3 by its periodic cooperation with the cam G, carried on the framework, effects the operation just described. The throw-off may be constructed as one strip or blade instead of fingers.

From the cutting-cylinders C Aand D the sheets pass onto the strippers F, mounted on the transverse bar f, which prevent them from following around with the cylinder D and act to transfer the said sheets to the sheet-path composed of the guides L, located a distance from the same.

In cutting the web the latter travels with the speed of the cylinders B, which cylinders run at a speed suited to effect the desired length of sheet and which is a slower surface speed than the speed of the transfer-cylinder K and the other cylinders used in the printing operation. It therefore becomes necessary to accelerate the speed of the paper after it has been cut into sheets and as it passes from the cutting-cylinders to the printingcylinders. This is done as follows: Mounted on the framework are a pair of cylinders or revolving bars H and I, the lower of which has a stationary axis, while the upper is adapted to contact with the stationary cylinder at intervals determined by the revolution of the cutting-cylinders O and D. These accelerators H and I have the same surface speed as the transfer-cylinder K and the other printing-cylinders, so that when the cylinder I is lowered to contact with the cylinder H the sheet will be pinched between the former and the bar of rubber h or similar material on the latter. ,B y this means the sheet receives a jerk which will accelerate its speedto that of the cylinder K, whereby the said sheet will pass over the tapes L and guides M, constructed in the usual manner, up to the said cylinder K and having the samespeed as the said cylinder K will register perfectly with the grippers lo on same. Furthermore, the accelerators H and I are so timed as to contact positively With the sheet to start it at the increased speed the moment the cutting device releases its back end, the object being that the sheet will start at once positively when it is released, as any delay in the starting away of the sheet at the increased speed will make a very great difference by the time it reaches the printing apparatus. Most devices Which break away or start sheets at the increased speed nip or bind the forward end. of the sheet; butin this instance the sheet is nipped anywhere where it is most convenient for the accelerators to seize it.

The cylinder I is pivoted at i and carries on each side an arm 2", provided each with a roller 2, adapted to coact with the cams 3, moving with the cylinder C. In order to make the action more positive, a spring d is also att-ached onto either side of the rod J. The breaker I may of course also be rocked by a rock shaft or operated by other suitable means. v Y

It will of course be understood that when the web of paper is perforated instead of being out clean oif the breakers H and I operate to break the individual sheets off, as well as to accelerate their speed.

The feeding and cutting cylinders are connected with the printing-cylinders by suitable gearing N, as shown, which are conveniently constructed in a manner similar to that disclosed in the said Patents Nos. 414,593

and 444,137, hereinbefore referred to, so that sheets of a great many sizes may be obtained by changing and adjusting the gears. over, as the time of nipping of the accelerators is determined by the speed of the cutting device it follows that the time of nipping by the accelerators will conform itself to the speed of the cutting-cylinders when the latter is changed, so that the means always operate in harmony. In order, however, to admit of the operation of the feeding, cutting, and accelerating cylinders without operating the printing-cylinders, the two gears N' and N2 are bolted together, N2 gearing with the gear O on the cylinder K and N with the gear N, so that by simply loosening the bolt the sheets may be run into the machine by turning the hand-wheel P. Any other means for fastening the two gear-wheels together may of course be used.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is-y V l. In paper-feeding mechanism, the combination with an ungrooved male cutting-cylinder having a rigid cutting-knife, and a female cutting-cylinder, of a sheet-path located a distance from said cylinders, a throw-off carried by the male cutting-cylinder inside its periphery to prevent the edge of the paper from following around with the said male cylinder,strippers located intermediate the cylinders and the sheet-path for preventing the ypaper from following around with the female cylinder and for transferring it to the sheetpath, and means for operating the throw-od once to every revolution of the cutting-cylinders.

2.v In paper-feeding apparatus, the combination with a pair of cutting-cylinders operated at a speed proportionate to the length of sheet to be cut, and printing mechanism, operating at a speed greater than the cuttingcylinders, of an accelerating device for the sheets comprising a pair of superposed rollers, a rubber bar extending longitudinally of one of said rollers, and a cam and connections for causing one of said rolls to descend upon the other to pinch the sheet; the parts being so timed that the rubber bar on one of said rollers comes opposite the other roller simultaneously therewith and simultaneously with the release of the back end of the sheet by the cutting-cylinders.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 13th day of September, A. D. 1900.

WALTER SCOTT.

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